From the 5-7 May 2026, the Director-General of UNESCO undertook an official visit to Switzerland, underscoring a renewed commitment to connecting knowledge, innovation and people-centred policy. Exchanges took place across St. Gallen, Zürich and Geneva, reflecting Switzerland’s role as a strategic partner in multilateral cooperation. The programme brought together engagement with the Government, private and philanthropic sectors, leading academic institutions, and the Geneva multilateral ecosystem.
The mission formed part of the Director-General’s broader efforts to advance the “UNESCO For the People” vision and the UNESCO80 reform agenda by strengthening partnerships with governments, academia, philanthropy, the private sector and multilateral institutions.
In St. Gallen, the Director General visited one of Switzerland’s most significant cultural assets, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Abbey of St Gall. Discussions with local authorities highlighted the importance of the Abbey’s historic library and documentary collections, inscribed on the Memory of the World Register, as a living example of how heritage contributes to identity and education. The Director-General also met with representatives of the Canton of St. Gallen, where exchanges focused on UNESCO designations and their role in supporting youth engagement and regional development.
At the 55th St. Gallen Symposium, a student-led platform for dialogue, the Director-General addressed a global audience of students and leaders under the theme of “Disrupted Age”, reflecting on the intersections between technological transformation, geopolitical change and demographic shifts. He emphasized UNESCO’s evolving approach to culture as a living force – extending beyond preservation to active safeguarding, transmission and accessibility, on-and offline, as a driver of resilience, inclusion and sustainable development. On the margins of the Symposium, the Director-General met with representatives of the University of St. Gallen.
In Zürich, discussions with foundations, private sector actors and Swiss universities – including a roundtable hosted by the Jacobs Foundation – highlighted UNESCO’s role as a bridge between research, policy and impact at scale. Exchanges focused on how education systems can better respond to accelerating global change, particularly by strengthening youth skills, improving learning outcomes and fostering innovation in education systems. Reflecting this broader emphasis on knowledge and innovation, the Director-General met with representatives of the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich to discuss science-policy dialogue, AI ethics, the governance of emerging technologies and international scientific cooperation.
The Director-General further met with Thomas Zeltner, President of the Swiss National Commission for UNESCO, to exchange on the role of National Commissions in strengthening intersectoral cooperation and partnerships.
In Geneva, the Director-General participated in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Chairpersonship Conference 2026 at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), where he underlined the importance of anticipatory governance for emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, grounded in ethics, human rights and international cooperation.
He met with Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, who heads the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, reaffirming the strong partnership between Switzerland and UNESCO and a shared commitment to multilateralism, inclusive diplomacy and international cooperation. He also met with the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), Tatiana Valovaya, to reaffirm longstanding cooperation between UNESCO and UN Geneva and discuss strengthened coherence across the UN system. The Director-General also visited the International Bureau of Education (IBE), where he met with staff and Board members and exchanged on the institution’s ongoing work and future priorities.
At the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a new Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, reinforcing cooperation on artificial intelligence governance, digital transformation and connectivity for education. The agreement reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that technological change supports inclusive and sustainable development. The Director-General also addressed the ITU Council to talk about connectivity, education, emerging technologies and strengthening coordination across the United Nations system on digital governance issues.
His visit to Geneva included exchanges with foundations, philanthropic institutions and private sector actors, reinforcing the growing importance of cross-sectoral partnerships to advance education, sciences, culture and information. A roundtable with Geneva-based philanthropic organizations highlighted evolving trends within Swiss philanthropy, particularly the increasing emphasis on trust-based collaboration, agility, access to expertise and measurable impact in engagement with UNESCO and the wider UN system.
In a separate lunch roundtable with representatives of major Swiss watchmaking houses and the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, the UNESCO inscription of watchmaking craftsmanship on the Intangible Cultural Heritage list provided the backdrop for exchanges on how cultural heritage can be linked with innovation and skills development. Particular attention was given to the transmission of craftsmanship to younger generations, as well as its links to education, sustainability and cultural continuity.
The visit reaffirmed UNESCO’s commitment to strengthening partnerships across education, sciences, culture and information, with a clear focus on delivering tangible impact for people and reinforcing multilateral cooperation. The mission confirmed Switzerland’s role as a strategic partner for UNESCO, and highlighted strong engagement from Swiss stakeholders around AI governance, skills development, sustainability, culture and multilateralism. UNESCO will continue to connect research, policy and action to deliver practical solutions that benefit people everywhere.
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